Worm positioning and locking lever for a slidable side jaw wrench



March 6, 1962 K. F. FINN ETAL v WORM POSITIONING AND LOCKING LEVER FOR A SLIDABLE SIDE JAW WRENCH Filed June 9, 1960 FIG. 4

KENNETH F. FINN AND DONALD J. FINN INVENTORS.

United States Patent 3,023,653 WORM POSITIONING AND LOCKING LEVER FOR A SLIDABLE SIDE JAW WRENCH Kenneth F. Finn and Donald J. Finn, both of 2508 E. Cook, Springfield, 111. Filed June 9, 1960, Ser. No. 34,980 Claims. (Cl. 81165) This invention relates to slidable side jaw wrenches of the type which are provided with lever means for forcing the jaws to clamp on an object like a vice.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improvement on the clamping wrench defined in the Patent 2,657,606 issued to Kenneth F. Finn, November 3, 1953, and titled: Adjusting and Latch Means for Slidable Side I aw Wrench. Heretofore it has been a problem to find a way to manufacture such wrenches in a Way such that the adjusting lever is prevented from accidentally separating from the wrench.

It is an object of the invention to provide a clip mounted in the fixed jaw of the wrench and adapted to function as a latch by being spring biased to apply pressure against a relatively smaller sized portion of the lever and abutting at times against a larger sized inner terminal or lock portion of the lever.

A further object is to provide a clip as described having a substantially polygonal and preferably hexagonal aperture therethrough for receiving a lever which is for the most part of identical polygonal and preferably hexagonal shape whereby the clip, by engaging a polygonal portion of the lever when the lever is in an inner storage position with respect to the fixed jaw, thereby maintains the handle portion of the lever in alignment with the wrench handle where it is stored out of the way during ordinary use of the wrench when the tightening lever is not needed.

A further object is to provide the clip with a spring bias so strong as to put a pressure on the lever creating sufiicient frictional engagement as to effectively hold the lever so it cannot fall outwardly and interfere with ordinary use of the wrench when tightening is not needed.

A further object is to provide a wrench with a latch clip as described which has an aperture which is not exactly polygonal or hexagonal, but which has one corner filled in, cooperating with a lever having portions received in and through the latch clip aperture which are of complernental shape, with a corner being machined ofii whereby the lever can be disassembled from the clip only when complemental conuers of the clip aperture and of the lever are in registry so that while the parts can be disassembled with care they tend not to accidentally come apart.

A further object is to provide a wrench as described the lever portion of which is made of polygonal, preferably hexagonal stock with some portions cut away to smaller sizes, as this provides a much more economical construction than a lever made from round stock with parts machined away to form polygonal surfaces as was the case with the lever in the above patent.

In summary, objects of the invention are more broadly to provide a wrench as described, the lever of which is prevented from accidental coming apart from the wrench, the lever of which is held in a storage position in alignment with the handle when not in use, the lever of which is made more economically from polygonal or hexagonal stock and the lever of which is prevented from falling outwardly from the fixed jaw by gravity While the wrench is being normally used by manual turning of the Worm without the use of a lever for clamping on an object.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing the improved wrench with the parts positioned whereby the wrench may be operated in the conventional manner.

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FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that shown in FIGURE 1 with part of the head of the wrench broken away showing a spring biased clip at the inner end of the adjusting worm for preventing accidental separation of the lever from the wrench and locking the lever next to the wrench when not needed for tightening and with part of the handle broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that shown in FIGURE 2 showing the lever pressed inwardly wherein the adjusting worm is released to provide conventional operation of the wrench.

FIGURE 4 is a view showing the spring biased clip.

FIGURE 5 is a cross section through the wrench taken on line 55 of FIGURE 1 showing the hexagonal shank upon which the adjusting nut is positioned.

FIG. 6 is a section at a right angle to shaft portion 24 through segment 44, FIG. 2 or FIG. 3.

While the drawings show an example of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that these principles can be used with some changes from the example of the drawings and still be within the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a slidable jaw wrench generally indicated at 10 is provided with a head 14 on one side of and integral with an elongated handle 16 and a fixed jaw extends from the head in a usual manner, the wrench further having a knurled worm 12 mounted in the head.

The wrench has a movable jaw 20 engaged with the threads 36 of the Worm in a usual fashion whereby rotation of the worm will cause movable jaw 20 to move back and forth.

In accordance with this invention, an approximately L-shaped lever 22 having shaft portion 24 which serves as a shaft upon which the worm 36 is free to rotate when the shaft is in an inner position as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2.

The shaft portion 24 is held in place by a clip 26 which has an upper end having flat surfaces on both sides and which has an arm 28 extending downwardly from its upper portion, the arm 28 being offset inwardly of the worm opening 46 of the wrench whereby it is received in a bore 62 which opens into the head downwardly from the worm opening 46 and is of a size for snugly but slidably receiving the arm 28 of the clip. 7

A spring 31 is positioned in the bore 62 beneath the lower end of the clip arm 28 so as to exert a pressure upwardly on the clip 26.

The base 32 of the movable jaw 2! is provided with teeth 34 that mesh with threads 36 of the worm 12 and the worm is rotatably mounted on the shank or axle portion 24 of the lever, the worm 12 having a bore extending from its innermost side closest to the fixed jaw 18 inwardly of the worm 12 a substantial distance, the bore 38 being of a larger diameter than the outside of a portion 44 of the shank or axle portion 24 of the lever 22 and the portion 44 is substantially polygonal around its perimeter as seen in cross section, and is preferably substantially hexagonal, however, as best seen in FIGURE 6, one corner of the substantially polygonal portion 24 of the lever, as seen in cross section is cut away so that the cross section is polygonal or hexagonal and this corner is best seen at '45 in FIGURES 3 and 6 and preferably the corner 45, as seen in FIGURE 6, is cut off entirely at the polygonal cross section 44.

As thus described, it will be seen that when the clip 26 is put in position and the spring 31} depressed and the worm 12 put in place that the shank or axle portion 24 of the lever can be inserted through a suitable shaft portion receiving opening 58* disposed through the wrench head in an area 48, and extending from the outside of the head on that side of the head opposite the fixed jaw inwardly, axially of the worm 12 to the worm opening 46.

The portion 50 is a mate to a second shaft receiving portion 54 which extends through the head, axially of the worm from the opening 46 through the fixed jaw side of the wrench head.

Both shaft receiving opening portions 50 and 54 are cylindrical and permit a free rotation of the shank or axle portion 24 of the lever 22, as is important, since most of the shaft or axle portion of the lever is formed of polygonal and preferably hexagonal stock.

For purposes of economy that portion of the lever 22 which is oifset from the shaft portion 24 for applying leverage is also polygonal or hexagonal where the stock from which the lever is made is turned down to form a cylindrical section 52 of the shaft portion 24, the section 52 being disposed toward the movable jaw side of the wrench head from the substantially polygonal portion 44.

Section 52 is cylindrical and is adapted to freely rotate in polygonal and preferably hexagonal cross-sectioned section 49 of the Worth 12, the section 46 extending axially of the worm and arranged on that end of the worm which is opposite the innermost end section 56 of the shaft portion 24 of the lever, whereby at times when the lever is in its outer position,- shown in FIGURE 2, the polygonal or clutching section 44 of the shaft portion 24 is adapted to V engage in the correspondingly and complementary shaped meshing polygonal and preferably hexagonal section 4! of the worm, whereby the portions 40 and 44 are in mesh for clutching so that the worm can be rotated by the lever.

The innermost end of, shaft portion 24 has an innermost section 56 which is of a polygonal shape and preferably hexagonal and which has onecorner cut ofi as best seen at 57 and extending the length of the endmost hexagonal section 56 whereby the section 56 has a crosssection identical to section 44 so that the section 56 is adapted to pass freely through the complementarily shaped opening '66 of the uppermost portion of clip 26, the open ing 69 having preferably a hexagonal'or polygonal shape with a corner not cut away and remaining filled as best seen at 64 in FIGURES 4 and 6.

Between the innermost end section 56 and the section 44 is 3. turned down section 58 which is preferably of frusto-conical shape with its narrowest end connected to the innermost section 56.

As thus described, the insertion of shaft portion 24 through the worm can occur in many positions of meshing in clutch portions 41 and 44. However, the passage of the innermost hexagonal portion 56 through the opening 60 of the clip can only be done when the cut away corner 57 of the section 56 is disposed opposite and in registry with the filled in corner 64 of the clip opening 69, in such position assembly and disassembly is possible, although for disassembly a depression of the clip against the spring 30 is necessary and since this does not occur at unauthorized times, the lever is firmly prevented from coming out of the wrench accidentally by the pressure of the bottom edge of the opening 60 of the clip against the smallest part of the frusto-conical portion 58 and at times abutting the inner end of the shaft section 56 preventing accidental disassembly of the lever 22.

As thus described, it will be seen that a solution to the problem of providing a leverage operated worm in a wrench made in' standard slidable side jaw wrench dies has been accomplished whereby for the first time the economical barrier of needing special dies to provide a wrench with this leverage feature has been overcome. Simple borings of the conventional wrench head are made at St) and 54 to receive the shaft and another bore is made at 62 to receive the clip arm 28 and spring 30 and otherwise all changes are made in a special worm and by the additional features of this invention.

From the foregoing specification it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and. in an economical manner and that its simplicity,

accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device considering what it will accomplish and that it will find an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size, and arrangementof details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice if desired.

We claim:

1. A slidable side jaw wrench of the type having a head on one end of a handle with a worm opening ex-' tended through the head and an L-shaped lever-operated axially bored worm in which one leg of the lever provides a shaft and is slidable-in the worm, a clip disposed between the worm and one end of the worm opening in the wrench head, said clip having an opening to receive said one leg of the lever, means for urging said clip towards said shaft portion, said one leg of the lever having a innermost retainer portion and having asmaller portion disposed immediately outward of said retainer portion, whereby said clip can engage said smaller portion and abut the inner side of said retainer portion to prevent said lever from being accidentally displaced from said wrench. I

2. In combination: a slidable side jaw wrench having a wrench head with a fixed jaw extended therefrom and having an adjusting worm opening therein, an adjusting worm in said opening which is of a lesser axial length than the corresponding length of said opening, an elongated handle integral with and extending from said head, a slidable jaw having teeth operably engaged with threads of said worm mounted in the wrench head, a shaft extending through said worm, a first shaft receiving opening extending through said wrench head from the outside of the head on that side of the head opposite the fixed jaw and extending inwardly axially of said worm, a second shaft receiving opening extending into said head axially of said worm from said worm receiving opening, said shaft being rotatably received in said first and second shaft receiving openings, said shaft and said worm having complemental clutching and declutching surfaces, whereby when said shaft is in an outer position relatively closer to that side of the wrench which is opposite said fixed jaw said clutching surfaces will be in engagement, whereby a rotation of said shaft will cause a corresponding rotation of said worm, and the respective said surfaces of said shaft and of said worm being such that when said shaft is in a position relatively farther from that side of said head which is opposite from said fixed jaw said surfaces are in a declutching relationship, whereby said worm can turn freely upon said shaft, leverage applying means attached to said shaft adjacent to said first opening, and a clip disposed between one end of said worm and one end of said worm receiving opening, said clip having an opening therethrough for receiving said shaft, said clip having a protruding arm, said worm opening having a recess in the wall thereof slidably receiving said arm of said clip, resilient means disposed in said recess and urging said clip against said shaft, said shaft having an innermost retainer portion and a portion of smaller cross-sectional size than said retainer portion and disposed inwardly of said innermost retainer portion, whereby said shaft cannot move outwardly of said openings and being disengaged from said wrench head accidentally, because said clip will press against said smaller portion of said shaft and abut the adjacent surface of the innermost retainer portion of said shaft.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said leverage applying means is specifically an elongated lever extending generally transversely to said shaft with an outer terminal portion disposed in parallelism with the adjacent side of the elongated handle portion of said Wrench at times when said shaft is in a certain inner storage position, and the opening of said clip having complemental asymmetrical surfaces as seen in cross-section which are not in engagement at times when said shaft is in said storage position for preventing undesired rotation of said shaft to hold the terminal end of said lever in parallelism with said handle, the size of said smaller portion of said shaft being sutficiently lesser than the opening in said clip as to permit rotation of said shaft with respect to said clip at times when said shaft is in an outer clutching position for use of the Wrench as a clamping wrench.

4. The combination of claim 2 in which the clutching portion of said shaft and said lever are both formed of the same polygonal cross-section for making it possible to manufacture the lever out of polygonal stock.

5. In a slidable side jaw wrench, the combination which comprises a handle having a wrench head with a transverse Worm-receiving opening therethrough and with a fixed jaw extended therefrom on one end, a movable jaw slidably mounted in said wrench head and having Worm gear teeth in the base thereof, said head having a shaftreceiving opening extended transversely therethrough, a shaft having fiat sides on a portion thereof and an annular recess therein extended into said shaft-receiving opening, said shaft having a lever providing a handle extended from one end, a worm mounted on said shaft and positioned in the transverse opening of said head, the worm having flat surfaces in a portion thereof and said flat surfaces being positioned to mesh with the flat sides of the shaft, the shaft being arranged to slide longitudinally, whereby the flat sides thereof engage or disengage, selectively, the flat surfaces in the bore of the worm, a clip positioned between one end of the Worm and an end of said transverse worm-receiving opening through the wrench head, said clip having a shaft-receiving opening therethrough and being designed to snap into said annular recess of the shaft, and resilient means in the wrench head urging the clip toward the shaft to prevent accidental displacement of the shaft from the wrench head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,596,266 McEnroe May 13, 1952 2,657,606 Finn Nov. 3, 1953 2,692,523 Finn Oct. 26, 1954 2,719,449 Johnson Oct. 4, 1955 2,729,999 Barnes Jan. 10, 1956 2,750,829 Barnes et a1. June 19, 1956 2,813,444 Hatch Nov. 19, 1957 2,859,650 Barnes Nov. 11, 1958 

